Printing machine with operation lockout

ABSTRACT

A copying machine has electronic circuitry which prevents the machine from operating if it is programmed to make any number of copies lying within a predetermined range.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,856,125 Post Dec; 24, 1974 PRINTINGMACHINE WITH OPERATION [5 6] References Cited LOCKOUT UNITED STATESPATENTS [75] Inventor: Donald Saxton Post, Fairport, NY. 3,074,525 11963 Quinn 192 127 3,453,500 7 1969 L d' 1. [73] Asslgnw Xerox(3911101911919 Stamford 3,746,891 7/1973 Conn. 1 [22] Filed: Ma r. 19,1973 Primary Examiner-Allan D. Herrmann 21 Appl. N0.: 342,638 1 I [57]ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 192/127, 271/57, 328/37, A py machine haselectronic circuitry which P 328/48 vents the machine from operating ifit is programmed 51] 1111. C1. Gllc 19/00, H03k 21/32, B65h 7/00 tomakey number of 9911198 1 8 wlthm a predeter- [58] Field of Search 192/127,128; 328/37, 48; mmed range- ONE DECODER) 5 Claims, 2 Dr awing Figurescome. LOGIC 1 CIRCUIT COPY SELECT REGISTERS I PAH-1m n vacuum SHEU 1 BF2 PRINTING MACHINE WITH OPERATION LOCKOUT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to an improvement in an electrostatic copyingmachine (copier), or other printing machine, but more particularly to amachine having means for preventing operation of the machine if thelatter is programmed to make any number of copiesor prints lying withina predetermined range.

In the practice of xerography as described in US. Pat. No. 2,297,69l toChester F. Carlson, a xero graphic surface comprising a layer ofphotoconductive insulating material affixed to a conductive backing isused to support electrostatic images. In the usual method of carryingout the process, the xerographic surface is electrostatically chargeduniformly over its surface and then exposed to a light pattern of theimage being reproduced to thereby discharge the charge in the areaswhere lightstrikes the layer. The undischarged areas of the layer thusform an electrostatic charge pattern or latent image in conformity withthe configuration of the original pattern.

The latent electrostatic image may then be developed by contacting itwith a finely divided electrostatically attractable materiaLsuch as aresinous powder-(toner).

The powder is held in the image areas by the electrostatic fields on thelayer. Where the field is greatest, the greatest amount of material isdeposited; and where the field is least, little or .no material isdeposited. Thus, a powder image is produced in conformity with the imageof the'copy being reproduced. The powder is programmed to print'anynumber of prints lying within a given range (e.g., in a low run range oftwo through nine prints). More specifically, however, the inventionincludes electronic'circuitry for preventing the main drive motor of themachine from operating if a copy select register indicates that themachine has been pro- V grammed to print any number of prints lyingwithin the subsequently transferred to a sheet of paper or othertransfer member and suitablyaffixed thereto to thereby form a permanentprint.

The latest concept for copiers utilized high speed flash exposure of adocument, and a moving photoconductive material in the form of anendless belt which is continuously charged. Additionally, such copiersare provided with a developing system which supplies toner particles inrelatively large quantities for solid area cover ge, such as a magneticbrush developing apparatus. Thus, after the belt passes the magneticbrush assembly for example, a xerographic powder image is formed on thebelt which corresponds to the electrostatic latent image. This powderimage is then transferred to a support surface (e.g., a sheet of paper)to which it is fused by a fusing assembly whereby the powder image iscaused to adhere to the support surface permanently.

This latest concept for copiers results in very high speed machineswhich copy at a rate substantially in excess of any present or previouscopying machines. Be-

cause of this high speed capability, it is highly desirable that suchcopiers be efficiently utilized. For example,

programmed fora low run.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION- The-present invention is directed to means forpre venting operation of a printing machine if the latter is givenrange. This is accomplished by logic circuitry which senses what isregistered on the copy select register, and which controls relaycontacts in responses to what is sensed. It is understood that it iswithin the scope of the present invention to have the circuitry preventthe machine from operating by controlling disabling means other thanrelay contacts (e.g., a clutch connected between the main drive motorand the driven member, etc.).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a schematic sectional viewof an electrostatic copier embodying the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit embodying the principles of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION For a general understanding of acopying machine in which the invention may be incorporated, reference ismade to FIG. 1 in which the various system components for the machineare schematically illustrated. As in all electrostatic systems of thetype illustrated, a light image of a document to be reproduced isprojected onto the sensitized surface of a xerographic plate to form anelectrostatic latent image thereon. Thereafter, the latent image isdeveloped with an oppositely charged developing material to form axerographic powderimage, corresponding to the latent image on the platesurface. The powder image is then electrostatically transferred to asupport surface to which it may be fused by a fusing device whereby thepowder image is caused permanently to adhere to the support surface.

In the illustrated machine 10, an original D to be cop ied is placedupon the transparent support platen P fixedly arranged in anillumination assembly generally indicated by the reference'numeral 11,arranged at the left end of the machine. While upon the platen, anillumination system flashes light rays upon the original therebyproducing image rays corresponding to the inforrnational areas on theoriginal. The image rays are projected by means of an optical system forexposing the photosensitive surface of a xerographic plate in the formof a flexible photoconductive belt 12. The surface of the belt was madephotosensitive by the previous step of uniformly charging the same bymeans of a corona charging device' 13. In order to effect imageprocessing, the belt 12 is arranged on a roller assembly generallyindicated by the reference numeral 14, the latter being driven by a maindrive motor (discussed below) and having three rollers 16, 18, and 20.

The roller assembly 14 is slidably mounted upon two support shafts, oneof which is secured to the frame of the machine, and is adapted to drivethe belt 12 in the direction of the arrow at a constant rate. Duringthis movement of the belt, the reflected light image of an original onthe platen is flashed upon the photosensitive surface of the belt toproduce electrostatic latent im ages thereon at an exposure station A.

trostatic image passes through a developing station B in which there ispositioned a developer assembly generally indicated by thereferencenumeral .15, the latter providing development of the electrostatic imageby depositing toner on the belt surface via multiple brushes 22 as thebelt moves through the development zone.

The developed electrostatic image is transported by the belt to atransfer station C where a sheet of copy paper is moved between atransfer roller and the belt at a speed in synchronism with the movingbelt in order to accomplish transfer of the developed image solely by anelectrical bias on the transfer roller. There is provided at thisstation a sheet transport mechanism genercertain that the copier ispresently making satisfactory copies.

The lockout means 33 may be enabled or disabled by v applying theappropriate input signal'at 38. If the latter ally indicated at 17adapted to transport sheets of paper from a paper handling mechanismgenerally indicated by the reference numeral 24 to the developed imageon the belt at the station C. I

After the sheet is stripped from the belt 12. it is conveyed into afuser assembly generally indicated by the reference numeral 26, whereinthe developed and transferred powder image on the sheet material is permanently affixed thereto. To lubricate the fuser assembly (i.e., toapply a film of lubricant to one of the fuser rollers), a lubricator 28is provided. After fusing, the finished copy is discharged from theapparatus at a suit able point for collection externally of theapparatus.

As stated above, because copiers of the type described above are capableof making copies at a very rapid rate, it is highly desirable that suchcopiers be utilized efficiently. To show how this is accomplished,reference is made to FIG. 2, wherein there is illustrated an electroniccircuit for preventing operation of the copier if a low run isprogrammed into the copier.

To'prevent copies from being made if a low run is programmed into thecopier-10, an electronic circuit having two registers is utilized. Thecopier is programmed to make the desired number of copies of an originalby registering the number on a copy select register 30, the lattercomprising a dynamic shift register combined with a flag register andmultiplexed decoder so as to provide a 3 digit time shared display. Acopy count register32 (also comprising a dynamic shift register combinedwith flag register and multiplexed decoder), counts the copies as theyare deposited into'the' receiving bin of copier l0, and when the contentof each of the registers 30 and 32 is equal, the copier will stop byopening relay contacts as will be described hereinafter. Thus, wheneverthe content of each of 4 these registers is equal, the copier will notoperate because the above mentioned relay contacts will not close, or ifoperating, the copier will stop.

The content of each of the registers 30 and 32 is com pared'by acomparison circuit 34,'and depending upon the content of each, anappropriate output is delivered to OR gate 36. Thus, one of severalconditions necessary to permit operation of the copier is that thecontent of each register not be equal. As stated above, however, it maybe desirable to provide lockout means prevent operation of the copier ifthe latter is programmedfor a short run, e.g., ,two through nine copies.Thus, in this instance, the copier should not operate even if thecontent of each of the registers 30 and 32 is not equal; it may bedesirable, however, to permit the copier to make a single samplecopy inorder to assignal is high the lockout meansis set to'function; if

low, the lockout means is disabled, and thus will not function, because.gate 48 will always be high regardless of the program selection. Thus,in the latter instance, the copier 10 can operate to make copiesassuming that a number other than zero has been programmed into thecopier. 1

. A leading zero suppression circuit 40 inhibits the illumination of thedisplay on the copy select register 30 when leading zeros are present inthe units, tens, or hundreds position thereof. This is accomplished byblocking the flag register at the appropriate strobe time. On equipmenthaving digital display means, e. g., LED display means, it is common, tohave a leading zero suppression circuit to block out (for astheticreasons) any unnecessary leading zeros of a number displayed. Forexample, the numeral one (1) would be displayed as 001 if the twoleading zeros were not suppressed. Bysuppressing'the two leading zeros,however, only 1 is displayed. Thus, because this is commonly done, noadditional explanation of this circuit is believed necessary. Thus, thelockout means 33 interrogates the copy selectregister 30 and provides aready condition at 42 if a one (1) is registered in the units positionof the register. A ready condition at 42 means that a condition ispresent there which will permit the copier 10 to operate. At the sametime, the

'lockout means interrogates the tens position of the are programmed intothe copier, a readycondition will not be provided at 42, and the copier10 will not operate even though the content of each of the registers 30and 32 are not equal.

Initiation by the clear switch 44 at the beginning of each copy job armsOR gates 46 and 48. Normally, the output of OR gate 48is low, thuscausing the output of inverter 50 to be low which will consequentlyprevent copier 10 from operating. When the output of inverter 50 is high(a ready condition), the copier 10 will operate because switch 52' willconsequently close, thus delivering current through relay contacts 54.When the latter closed, the main drive motor 56 of the copier isconnected to a main line power source as can be seen.

It is noted that the output'from inverter 50 passes throughacombinational logic circuit 58, the latter also possibly havingadditional inputs 60, 62, and 64 if it is desired that other conditionsbe satisfied before permitting copier 10 to operate. In the presentembodiment, for example, one 'of these conditions is that the StartPrint button of the copier be pushed.

Any number programmed from 2 through 9 will cause the output of circuit34 to be high. Ordinarily this high, consequently producing a readycondition at If a number is registered in the tens position of register30, the tens flag is enabled in the zero suppression circuit 40. Gate 47senses the latter and causes gate 48 to go high. Both inputs to gate 36are thus high, and thus the output of inverter 50 is high; consequently,a

i said sensing means includes means for receiving a sigready" conditionis produced at 42.

While the invention has been described with reference to the structuredisclosed, it is not confined to the details set forth, but is intendedto cover such modifications or changes as may come within the scope ofthe following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a copying machine, the combination comprismg: a

a. means for registering the number of copies that it is desired be madeof an original document; and

b. means for sensing any number registered by said registering means,and for preventing actuation of said machine if said registered numberlies within a predetermined range.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein nal, andmeansresponsive to said signal for allowing said machine to be actuatedregardless of what number is registered by said registering means.

3. In a printing machine, the combinationcomprising: a

a. means for registering the number of prints thatit is desired beprinted by said machine; and

b. means for preventing actuation of' said machine'if said registerednumber lies within a predetermined range.

4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein said preventing meansalso includes means for allowing actuation of said machine regardless ofwhat numberis selected.

5. An improved printing machine having means for printing copies, theimprovement comprising:

a. means for registering the number of copies that it is desired beprinted; and

b. means for preventing said printing means from operating if saidregistered number lies within a predetermined range.-

1. In a copying machine, the combination comprising: a. means forregistering the number of copies that it is desired be made of anoriginal document; and b. means for sensing any number registered bysaid registering means, and for preventing actuation of said machine ifsaid registered number lies within a predetermined range.
 2. Thecombination according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means includesmeans for receiving a signal, and means responsive to said signal forallowing said machine to be actuated regardless of what number isregistered by said registering means.
 3. In a printing machine, thecombination comprising: a. means for registering the number of printsthat it is desired be printed by said machine; and b. means forpreventing actuation of said machine if said registered number lieswithin a predetermined range.
 4. The combination according to claim 3,wherein said preventing means also includes means for allowing actuationof said machine regardless of what number is selected.
 5. An improvedprinting machine having means for printing copies, the improvementcomprising: a. means for Registering the number of copies that it isdesired be printed; and b. means for preventing said printing means fromoperating if said registered number lies within a predetermined range.